The Atomic boot product line at Footloose will feature the Hawx Ultra 120, Hawx Prime 120 and 100, Hawx Magna 130, and in the woman’s boots the Hawx Ultra 90 L and Hawx Prime 90 L.

The Hawx Ultra 120 met with good success last season; the fit is truly low volume and the on-snow performance is fantastic…what could be better?

​The implied demise of the Redster was overstated last season however the Redster name is assigned to the World Cup race lineup. The World Cup Redster will still be the Redster in a 93mm last and won’t be on our shelves except as a Jr. Race boot.

The Energy Backbone is an inverted wishbone-shaped yoke that extends from hinge to hinge and up the spine of the shell. This increases the edge-to-edge response and immediacy of forward pressure without inhibiting the fluidity of the forward flex. There were some concerns about the bonding of the Energy Backbone to the shell cuff but those instances seemed rare and Atomic readily took care of the problem.

The 3D Memory Fit liners for the Ultra have a pretty good track record as they have been in a number of boots prior to the Hawx. They are the same construction as the Salomon X series liners. Amer Group owns both Atomic and Salomon (among other interests) so there has been some cross-pollination. The 3D Memory Fit liner is precisely lasted for the internal shape of the shells and has excellent out-of-the-box fit and feel. It is also lightweight and warm. The upper cuff has a nice close wrap for those with skinny lower legs. The Ultra is a tiny bit roomier than expected from its outward appearance and shorter shell length. The toe box actually has ample wiggle room. The Ultra has tenacious heel retention, not as ferocious as the Redster was, good medial support and the instep is in keeping with the proportions of the volume of the boot.

The boots ski really well; the Ultra is a super solid, high performance ski boot that does not disappoint in any regard. The close fit of the Ultra makes for precise and accurate response. Feedback is crystal clear as is the tactile presence.Atomic makes canted replaceable toes and heels for the Ultra. Sole canting is very effective.

All Hawx boots are Memory Fit. The boots can be put into an Atomic oven (exactly like the Salomon oven oddly enough) and molded to the feet. There are limits to how much this process can accomplish but overall they’ve been successful. We can still shape the shells for further fitting if needed. For the most part the Memory Fit process should be optional if the boots fit well off the shelf. The issue with heat molding entire shells is that there may be areas that should remain as is. Heat molding the whole boot can loosen everything. ​

HAWX PRIME 100/120 AND LADIES 90/100

The Hawx Prime 120 and 100 are the same Hawx that have graced our shelves since the introduction of Hawx. A solid performer in the 100mm category, it too features new 3D Memory Fit liners-a good thing. Otherwise the Hawx Prime is unchanged from its predecessor. The Hawx Prime has a fair amount of internal volume yet is coupled to a good, intimate mid-foot and heel. There is ample power and good balanced stance as well as snow feel. We’ll have the Hawx Prime in 120 and 100 flex and the ladies in a 90 flex.

HAWX MAGNA 130

New to Footloose is the Hawx Magna 130. The Magna 130 is of Brobdignagian (very large) proportions, 102mm forefoot and commensurate internal volume. The shape is anatomic with plenty wiggle room for the toes, good instep height-they’ve made the tongue wider over the instep so it wraps more evenly-open throat and flared upper cuff. The medial aspect is conducive to stout lateral stability and is capable of delivering ample power to the skis. They have the same features found on the Magna’s slimmer siblings, cuff alignment, forward lean adjustment if desired-Atomic calls it the Power Shift (?) and sole flex*. For a truly high volume ski boot the Magna fits well enough for this skinny foot to make some good runs in. There is commonality here with the feel and on-snow nature of the Magna, Prime and Ultra; feedback is clear, feel is precise and, with the proviso that the foot is commensurate to the width and volume, input is direct.

*Sole flex is an Atomic story. Some years ago Atomic, at the time a renowned ski manufacturer, acquired ESS bindings and Koflach boots. In piecing together the three components it was discovered at the very highest level of the sport that if the ski were allowed to flex over the terrain without any inhibiting factors, snow contact was maintained and speeds increased. ESS bindings were unique because they were fixed at the toe piece only-the heels slid in a track. This arrangement lets the skis flex very much in the way they were designed to, eliminating, to a great extent, a flat spot under the feet typical with the way other bindings are fixed to the skis. Atomic boots from the Beta Race from the not-too-distant past have all been built to allow the soles to flex to complement the whole system. The proof is in the pudding; Atomic has a huge presence at the top tier of skiing.